Whether you want high-end sound for your earbuds or a backup pair to toss into your bag for flights, here are the best wired earbuds, including budget-friendly to high-end options. The 2XR is the extended model, which means there’s added support for sound deep in the bass part of the spectrum. The ultra-thin, metallic blue enclosure of each earbud detaches from the included 4-foot cable, making the headphones supremely repairable. If a cable frays, buy a new one, rather than replacing the whole set of earbuds. Overall, the 2XR provides stellar sound quality, comfort, and durability for a reasonable price. Detachable cable: Yes | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: 20Hz to 16kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips and filters, zippered storage pouch, detachable cable, shirt clip The sound tuning is balanced and musical, with a little extra oomph in the bass. These earbuds don’t deliver nuanced high-end frequency ranges but will sound great for most styles of music. You can pick up the CX 300S in a few different colors, and because it’s Sennheiser, it’ll last you a while if you take care of it. Detachable cable: No | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: 100Hz to 10kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips, carrying pouch While the design is classic, it doesn’t allow for detachable cables, and the heavy bass response of the earbuds might not be suitable for all types of music, particularly more delicate mixes. The earbuds are available in multiple colors ranging from classic black to bold, fire-engine red, and they come with a decent carrying pouch and multiple ear tips. Detachable cable: No | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: 4Hz to 24kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips, carrying pouch Tin HiFi provides a high-end, silver-plated, braided cable in the box that transmits sound beautifully and detaches from the earbuds so you can replace it if it fails over time. The design may not be for everyone, and the sound can be a tad bass-heavy for earbuds, but the price is budget-friendly and right for what you get. These headphones earn a solid place on our list for value alone. Detachable cable: Yes | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: 12Hz to 40kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips, detachable braided cable It’s not all looks, though. A uniquely designed 10-millimeter speaker on the inside uses rigid materials to provide tremendous focus in your audio. This configuration means the headphones will sound great from top to bottom, without a ton of accentuation on any particular part of the sound spectrum. However, the loud design and flat, natural sound isn’t for those who want a subtle look and a Top 40-friendly, bass-heavy mix. But for those who want a beautiful-looking (and sounding) pair of earbuds, look no further. Detachable cable: Yes | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: 10Hz to 36kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips, detachable braided cable, carrying case The precision-designed dynamic driver and the chambered enclosures provide a natural, balanced, and truly musical sound. These headphones won’t feel as loud or powerful as others on the list, but that may be okay depending on your music taste. There’s a detachable cable in the box for extra repairability and several ear tip options so you can find your perfect fit. Detachable cable: Yes | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: Unspecified | Accessories: Extra ear tips and filters, detachable cable, over-ear attachments, premium silicone carrying case The entry-level Piston Fit earbuds feature a dual-layered composite driver to deliver stark highs and powerful lows without breaking the bank. The angled ear tip design positions the driver directly toward your eardrum so you hear a balanced sound stage, all while maintaining a comfortable fit. You can pick up the Piston Fit in a few colors, and each one comes with an inline remote for phone calls. Detachable cable: No | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips Featuring a genuinely balanced feel across the spectrum—so a musician hears precisely how a mix sounds without any coloration—and a comfortable over-the-ear design, these earbuds were made for the stage. With that comes some drawbacks for the average listener, though. You might find the bass and fullness lacking if you’re listening to typical Top 40 music. And the clear design might seem a little industrial and boring to some. Overall, if you’re into pro audio, the SE425 is a great place to start. Detachable cable: Yes | Cable length: 5.3 feet | Frequency response: 20Hz to 19kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips and filters, detachable cables, carrying case, 3.5 to 6.3mm adapter The machined aluminum body with an anodized finish offers two things: It gives the headphones next-level durability and provides a truly unique look and feel. The package also comes with an upgraded silver-plated cable for truly premium audio transmission. These features come with an astronomical price point, which could be worth it for the right listener. Detachable cable: Yes | Cable length: 4 feet | Frequency response: 5Hz to 20kHz | Accessories: Extra ear tips and filters, detachable cable, carrying case, cleaning tool
Design and Comfort
While some lower-profile earbuds work fine for those who want subtle, everyday headphones, a bigger, bolder design might fit your bill better. Similarly, the size of an earbud’s enclosure significantly affects how it will feel in your ear. While most earbuds offer multiple sizes of ear tips, consider the shape of the enclosure itself and how that might work in your ear.
Accessories Package
Most wired earbuds provide a small selection of ear tip sizes so you can find the right fit for your ears. Premium offerings will opt to include different types of ear tips (silicone, memory foam, etc.). The extra-premium packages provide detachable cables so you can upgrade and replace your cable when/if it fails.
About Our Trusted Experts
Jason Schneider has been a musician his whole life and is still searching for the perfect pair of headphones. He loves the Shure SE425 for on-stage performances but goes for Tin HiFi headphones in everyday use. When putting this list together, he considered both musician-grade IEMs with flat, musical response, consumer-friendly earbuds with great design and reasonable price points, as well as everything in between.
